YouChina Wiki

The China travel encyclopedia — sourced, dated, and built to be looked up

Travelers don’t read blogs at the boarding gate — they look things up. Every Wiki entry answers one real question, cites the sources it stands on, and shows the date it was last checked.

Phone & internet

Compare China travel eSIMs →

Getting your own phone, number, and data working in mainland China.

Can I use my US phone in China?Yes — with the right data plan. Roaming, travel eSIM, or a local SIM compared.Physical SIM vs eSIM for ChinaFor most tourists: travel eSIM, installed before you fly. When a local SIM wins instead.Hotel WiFi in ChinaIt works — but it is not a way around the blocks. Login quirks and the simpler fix.Does Gmail work in China?No — not without help. What to set up before your inbox goes quiet.Do iMessage & FaceTime work?Yes — both are rare exceptions that work normally. The green-bubble caveat.

Apps & payments

Full payments guide →

What runs, what is blocked, and how you actually pay for things.

Does Apple Pay work in China?Partially — but don’t rely on it. QR codes rule; here’s the setup that works.Foreign cards at China ATMsYes — at the right machines. Which banks, and what to sort out before you fly.Best translation apps for ChinaPick one that works offline — Google Translate is not dependable inside the mainland.Does WhatsApp work in China?No — blocked since 2017. What travelers use instead.Does Google work in China?No — Search, Maps, Gmail and Play are all affected. The full picture.

Rules for visitors

Visa-free entry rules →

Tipping, smoking, drones, medications — the everyday rules that surprise people.

China rules for visitorsThe category page: what’s customary, what’s regulated, and what to check before packing.

Safety

Travel insurance for China →

The numbers to know and the traps to skip.

China emergency numbers110, 119, 120, 122 — who answers what, and what to say when you call.Common tourist scamsEvery classic trap has a simple counter. Reassuring, practical, no fearmongering.

When to visit

Check your visa-free window →

Seasons, crowds, and the two holiday peaks to plan around.

When to visit ChinaThe category page: shoulder seasons, Golden Week, Chinese New Year, region by region.

How Wiki entries earn their answers

Sources on every entry

Policy and safety claims are tied to official sources — government portals, embassies, operators — listed at the bottom of each entry.

A visible last-checked date

China changes fast. Each entry shows when it was last verified, so you know how fresh the answer is.

No invented numbers

Where a price, limit, or rule varies or can’t be verified first-hand, entries say so instead of guessing.

Last updated 2026-07-10 · New entries are added continuously; the ones above are live now.